Farmers Movement Archive

PM ‘maligning’ country on farmer issues: Tariq Anwar

PATNA: The All India Congress Committee general secretary Tariq Anwar lashed out at the Centre for ignoring issues raised by the farmers against the new farm laws. While interacting with the media at Sadaqat Ashram on Monday, Anwar also raised the issue of special status for Bihar which has not been accorded by the Centre yet. He said the atrocities on the protesting farmers was maligning the image of India and advised Prime Minister Narendra Modi to step back, rather than showing stubborn attitude. “The issue of farmers is the biggest issue of our country. These laws have been made to strengthen the corporates, rather than farmers and it is sad that PM Modi is not ready to accept this fact. Through these laws, they are trying to snatch the right of farmers to even knock the door of court and those who have grievance go to district administration, instead of moving to the court,” Anwar said. He even demanded a legal guarantee for minimum support price. Anwar said farmers were being mishandled and putting nails or digging roads to obstruct their movement was shameful. He said, “First they called the farmers Khalistanis, then Pakistani and now they are saying that China and foreign powers are funding these farmers. It is shameful. This issue has reached the international platform and more delay in resolving it will further malign the image of our country. Just because of the ego of the PM and NDA government, this issue is not being sorted out.” When asked why the movement was missing the zeal in Bihar, Anwar cited lack of strong farmers’ unions in the state. However, he said his party will inform people about the problems in the new law and organize public meetings. Moving to the issue of special status, Tariq said it was proposed by chief minister Nitish Kumar in 2006-07. “He had then criticized the UPA government for not providing special status to Bihar. But now, there is a double engine government, so where is the obstruction? As far as opposition is concerned, we will support in all the development work. Nitish ji should counsel PM Modi on this issue.”

The Times of India

2021-02-09

Patna